The Laureates of this year’s Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, will receive their prizes in Stockholm on Friday, 1 December. Robert Bilott (USA), Colin Gonsalves (India), Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbadjan) and Yetnebersh Nigussie (Ethiopia) will be celebrated during a week-long programme in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland.
Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Award Foundation, said:
“The 2017 Laureates are inspiring changemakers and champions of justice who tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges at their very core. We look forward to celebrating them not only in Stockholm but also in Berlin and Geneva.”
The event will take place on Friday, 1 December at the Vasa Museum, which is home to the world’s only preserved 17th century ship and is the most visited museum in Scandinavia. The award presentation will take place 19.30-20.00 (CET), and will involve a wide range of performances, including live music. The entire presentation will be livestreamed on rightlivelihoodaward.org and members of the media interested in receiving a live signal are encouraged to contact the Right Livelihood Award Foundation. The celebration will continue throughout the evening with dinner and acceptance speeches.
Remarkably, seven parliamentary groups in the Swedish Riksdag have invited the 2017 Laureates to a seminar in the Parliament’s prestigious Second Chamber. The seminar will take place a matter of hours before the award presentation on Friday, 1 December at 13.30-15.00 (CET).
Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Award Foundation, said: “The invitation of the 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates to Parliament, from not less than seven party groups in the Swedish Riksdag, sends a clear message that Sweden is deeply engaged in global issues. The opportunity to address politicians in the biggest chamber is also an important recognition of the Laureates important contributions.“
The programme in Sweden will also include a meeting between the Laureates and the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström. Following the award presentation, the Laureates will visit Berlin from 3-5 December, where they are invited to a reception with the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller. The Conversation with the 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates at Maison de la Paix in Geneva on 6 December will conclude the programme for the Laureates. This event will be organised in partnership with The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.
For more information, please contact:
Johannes Mosskin, Public Relations Advisor, Right Livelihood Award Foundation:
Mobile: +46 70 437 1148, e-mail: johannes@rightlivelihood.org,
Further details on the Laureates, alongside high-resolution photographs and videos are available at:
rightlivelihoodaward.org/2017 #RightLivelihood2017
The Award week
The 2017 Right Livelihood Award programme covers a full week of events and high-level meetings in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. Some of them are listed below.
Stockholm:
30 Nov Meeting with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström.
1 Dec 13.30-15.00 (CET) Seminar in the Swedish Parliament. The event is livestreamed on the Foundation’s website.
1 Dec 19.30-20.00 (CET) Award presentation at the Vasa Museum. The event is livestreamed on the Foundation’s website, live signal is provided to interested media. The Award presentation is followed by dinner and Laureates’ acceptance speeches.
Berlin:
Monday 4 December: Yetnebersh Nigussie gives the Key Note Speech at the German Inclusion Day.
Monday, 4 December: The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, welcomes the Laureates at the Berlin Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus), where they will also sign the Golden Book.
Tuesday, 5 December: Ceremony “Celebrating the Right Livelihood Award Laureates in Berlin”, moderated by the German journalist and talk show host, Sandra Maischberger.
Geneva:
6 Dec 18.30-20.00 (CET) Conversation with 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates at Maison de la Paix on 6 December, organised in partnership with The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Open to the public, register here.
7 Dec Meeting with the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Kate Gilmore.
Zürich:
11 Dec 19.00-20.00 (CET) Public lecture at the Zürich City Hall with 2017 Laureate Yetnebersh Nigussie (Ethiopia). Free entrance, more info here.
About the Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award was established in 1980 to “honour and support courageous people and organisations offering visionary and exemplary solutions to the root causes of global problems”. It has become widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ and there are now 170 Laureates from 69 countries. In addition to presenting the annual award, the Right Livelihood Award Foundation actively supports the work of its Laureates, including protecting those whose life and liberty has been put at risk by their efforts. The Right Livelihood Award accepts proposals from everyone through an open nomination process.
About the 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates
The 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureates were announced on 26 September in Stockholm following the decision by an international Jury that considered 102 nominations from 51 countries.
This year’s honorary award goes to Robert Bilott (USA) “for exposing a decades-long history of chemical pollution, winning long-sought justice for the victims, and setting a precedent for effective regulation on hazardous substances.”
The cash award of SEK 3 million is shared equally by three Laureates:
- Colin Gonsalves (India) is honoured by the Jury “for his tireless and innovative use of public interest litigation over three decades to secure fundamental human rights for India’s most marginalised and vulnerable citizens.”
- Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbaijan) receives the Award “for her courage and tenacity in exposing corruption at the highest levels of government through outstanding investigative journalism in the name of transparency and accountability.” It is the first time that a Right Livelihood Award goes to a Laureate from Azerbaijan.
- Yetnebersh Nigussie (Ethiopia) is recognised by the Jury “for her inspiring work promoting the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, allowing them to realise their full potential and changing mindsets in our societies.”